InPokemon Brilliant DiamondandPokemon Shining Pearl, players will want to build their best possible Pokemon teams. This meansleveling Pokemon’s statsand evolving them into their best forms. There are also some stats that players want to make sure they level, and one of these is EVs or Effort Values.
Updated on June 09, 2025 by Renri Seong:MostPokemongamers are more focused on catching and training their favorite Pokemon than they are raising them for competitive battle. However, for the trainers that do like competitive battling, they must pay attention to their Pokemon’s Nature, stat growths, and do EV training. Since the Exp. Share started affecting all Pokemon in the party, it’s been difficult for competitive trainers to EV train in games likePokemon Brilliant DiamondandShining Pearl. Those serious about EV training their Pokemon for theDiamond/Pearlremakes will have to take some extra steps to properly EV train their party. The following guide has been updated to include tips of EV training in generation 8Pokemongames.
What are Effort Values in Pokemon?
Effort Values inPokemon Brilliant DiamondandPokemon Shining Pearlcan be leveled with each Pokemon in order to push stats past their usual max level. Players can check the EV of any Pokemon in the Pokemon menu; after selecting the Pokemon that players want to check the stats of, click “Check Summary,” then click on the hexagon. This page will display a Pokemon’s numerical stats, including their EVs. Effort Values top out at 510 total points, but players have the option to add or move EV points from one stat to another with battles, items, and food.
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Training Effort Values in Battle
There is a small selection of wild Pokemon that grant Effort Values, each in a specific category. When players battle these specific Pokemon, it will raise the EV points by one in that stat.
It’s highly recommended to EV train a Pokemon while it still has a lot of leveling to do. A good example would be hatching a Pokemon, since newly hatched Pokemon will always be level 1.
Using Items for Effort Values in Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
Although there areseveral differences betweenPokemon Shining PearlandPokemon Brilliant Diamond, the items for raising and lowering EVs are the same. Players can use several different kinds of items to level a Pokemon’s EV. There are Held items and food items that can change a specific EV. These items are:
EV Training with Permanent Exp. Share
The Exp. Share went from being a Held Item to a Key Item in generation 6 before it became a permanent part ofPokemon’s gameplay starting withLet’s Go, Pikachu!/Eevee!. While this helps players keep their Pokemon around the same level, the shared experience has interfered with those who like to EV Train for competitive battling.
Now, Effort Values gained from a Pokemon goes to any non-fainted Pokemon on the team. Meaning if a trainer wanted Speed EVs from a Floatzelbut had a Graveler in their party, then the 2 Speed EVs would go to Graveler and, of course, whichever Pokemon was used to defeat Floatzel. For a Pokemon like Graveler, it’s pointless in raising its Speed stat.
If players are serious about EV Training inBrilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl, the best way to do so is by having the Pokemon they want to train be theonlyPokemon in the party. Or, they can fill their team with the Pokemon they want to EV Train and five other Pokemon that need the same type of EVs.
While this is more tedious than EV Training in earlier games,BDSPallows players to access their Storage System from their Party menu. To get the portable PC box,players will need to have met Bebeafter defeating the Team Galactic Grunts in Jubilife City. This makes it easier to deposit/withdraw Pokemon without having to run back to a Pokemon Center.
